WASHINGTON — (CNN) A Hollywood director at the center of controversy is now coming under fire in Connecticut.
A union representing police officers is calling on a boycott of Quentin Tarantino’s new film, for what he said at an anti-police brutality rally back in October.
“This is a producer that glorifies violence and for him to say the things that he said, which we don’t believe are true, we’re going to take a stand on that,” said Middletown Police Sgt. Doug Clark.
He and Officer Derek Puorro, who are union president and vice president with AFSCME Local 1361 respectively, said plenty who wear the blue are seeing red over Tarantino’s comments in which he called some police officers murderers.
When it comes to The Hateful Eight, his new movie set to hit theaters on Christmas Day, the plan is to save their green and stay home.
“When I heard the comments, I was disgusted. Take a lot of criticism which I feel is unjustified in law enforcement. We’re doing a very tough job trying to protect the citizens and when someone makes divisive comments it makes it even harder,” Puorro said.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 4, represents roughly 35,000 workers across Connecticut, including more than 2,500 police officers in the state.
Earlier this month, a letter went out to members, calling on them to boycott the Christmas Day release.
Tarantino made the comments at a rally last month, speaking out against police brutality.
The event happened less than one week after a New York City police officer was killed in the line of duty.
The union said Tarantino has the right to free speech, just as they can choose to spend their money elsewhere.
“He has a right to say what he wants to say, he has a right to protest. We support that, but we also have the right not to spend our money there,” Clark said.
In addition to the boycott, Council 4 has also set up a petition on its website, asking all of its members to sign it and send a note to Tarantino, voicing their displeasure.
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